Ironing machine



Sept. 15, 1936. R W `IANDA 2,054,631

IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1953 5 Sheets-'Sheet l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 sept. 15, 1936. R. w. JANbA IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1933 Sept. 15, 1936. R W ANDA 2,054,631

IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1933 5 sheets-sheet 3 Sept.'l5, 1936. Rw. JANDA IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 sept. 15, 1936. R w JANDA 2,054,631

IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 other articles before ironing the same.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES moNiNG MAcmNE Rudolph W. Janda, Berwyn, Ill., assigner to Conlon Corporation, Cicero, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application September 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,302

12 Claims.

This invention relates. to ironing machines, and has to do with an ironing machine intended for domestic use.

It is a, common practice to dampen clothes and It frequently happens that the articles to be ironed are considerably damper at some portions thereof than at others. If such articles are passed through the ironing machine at a uniform rate, the excessively damp portions thereof may not be thoroughly dried. In ironing relatively large articles, such as bed sheets and the like, the article may be folded before being passed through the ironing machine and, in this folded condition, is relatively thick. Also, it is frequently desired to iron articles which are of comparatively heavy or thick material. Such relatively thick articles, or articles which have been folded, should be passed through the ironing machine relatively slowly so as to assure thorough drying thereof.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide mechanism for driving the roll of the ironing machine, such mechanism being adjustable at will for driving the roll at any selected one of a plurality of speeds when the shoe is in Icooperating relation to the roll, the driving mechanism also being adjustable for momentarily stopping the roll so as to assure thorough drying of excessively damp portions of an article confined between the roll and the shoe. A further object is to provide an improved driving mechanism of simple and compact construction which can be disposed with facility in limited space. It is also an object of my invention to provide, in conjunction with the roll driving mechanism, means for operating the shoe and for stopping the roll when the shoe is moved into inoperative position. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front view, partly broken away and in section, of an ironing machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2, on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away and parts being shown in elevation, showing the relative positions of the parts of the driving mechanism and control means when the roll is driven at high speed;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the release lever and incident to movement of the shoe away from the roll into inoperative position;

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the drive gear 15 and ring assembly;V

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view, partly disassembled, of the locking pawl, control lever and release lever and associated parts;

Figure 11 is a perspective detail view of the 20 supporting bracket for lche locking pawl, operating lever and release lever and associated parts;

Figure 12 is a detail plan View of the cam plate for actuating the release lever.

'lihe ironing machine comprises a bed plate I 25 of rectangular shape in plan and provided with a peripheral depending fiange 2, supporting legs 3, conveniently formed of sheet metal and of angle cross-section, being secured to this flange in any convenient manner, as by means of nuts and bolts. Plate I is provided, adjacent one end thereof, with an opening which accommodates a gear housing 4, the outer end of which is closed by upper and lower plates 5 and 6, respectively,

secured to the housing in any suitable manner.

The housing is provided with a flange 1 extending thereabout and seating upon the upper face of plate I, this flange being secured to the plate by bolts 8 which pass through the plate and through reenforcing angle strips S disposed at 40 the under face of the bed plate, these bolts receiving nuts I0.

A roll shaft II is rotatably mounted through a boss I2- projecting from the inner face of inner wall I3 of housing 4. This shaft extends through 45 a supporting sleeve I4 secured in a boss I5 projecting from the outer face of wall I3 and aligned with boss I2. A roll I6 is rotata-bly mounted on sleeve I4 adjacent boss I5 and is provided, at its end remote from housing 4, with a reenforcing ring Il spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to body I8 of the roll, which is conveniently formed of sheet metal. Shaft I I projects beyond the end of sleeve I4 remote from housing 4 and is flattened at I9 and threaded for reception nf a 55 nut 28 disposed at the inner face of ring |1 and at the outer face of a ball bearing structure 2| of suitable type mounted in the outer end of sleeve I4. A cap nut 22 screws upon the outer end of shaft I and coacts with nut 28 for clamping ring |1 to the shaft. This ring is provided with a slot which corresponds to the flattened portion I9 of the shaft, thus establishing a drivv ing connection between the shaft and the roll for rotating the latter. The roll is provided with a suitable pad 23 and a protecting cover 24.

A worm gear housing 25 is suitably secured to the bottom of housing 4 (Figure 2) as by means of bolts, one of which is designated 26 in Figure 1. The housing 25 is provided with a depending boss 21 adapted for rotatably supporting the lower end of a shaft 28 which is rotatably supported, adjacent its upper end, in a bushing 29 suitably secured in a relatively thick rib 38 extending inward from wall |3 of housing 4. (Figure 3.)

Shaft 28 is provided with a squared lower portion 3| about which is disposed an eccentric and clutch assembly 32. This assembly is similar to the eccentric and clutch assembly illustrated and described in detail in my Patent No. 1,867,839, dated July 19, 1932, and need not be here described in detail. The assembly 32 comprises an eccentric about which extends a strap 33, from` Asuitably secured upon a shoe operating shaft 48 mounted for rocking movement. This shaft extends through and projects beyond a sleeve 4I secured at one end in a tubular boss 42 projecting from housing 4, the sleeve 4| extending through a supporting member 43 suitably secured to bed plate I adjacent the back and the center thereof, the sleeve and the shaft being disposed in parallelism to this plate. An arm 44 is suitably secured to shaft 48, as by means of a pin 45, between the legs of a shoe supporting arm 46 loose on shaft 40. Arm 46 is suitably connected to and supports a shoe 41 which cooperates with the roll I6, and means is provided for coupling the arms 44 and 46 together so as to cause movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll in accordance with rocking of shaft 48, this coupling means being provided with a release lever 48 accessible from in front of the machine. The means for coupling the arms 44 and 46 together is illustrated and described in detail in my above identified patent and need not be further described here, it suiicing to note that any suitable means may be provided for connecting the shoe to the shaft 48 for movement therewith.

The assembly 32 also comprises clutch means cooperating with the squared portion 3| of shaft 28 for clutching the eccentric of this assembly to shaft 28 for rotation therewith through approximately 180 degrees, and then declutching the eccentric from the shaft. This clutch means is controlled by a trip finger 58 pivoted on aboss 5| projecting from the inner face'of housing 4, this finger normally being disposed for contact with an element 52 of the clutch assembly for declutching the eccentric member from shaft 28. A rod 53 is connected to finger 58 and extends up: ward therefrom through a boss 54 formed on housing 4, this boss receiving a button 55. When the shoe is in either of its extreme positions, element 52 is in contact with nger 58 and the assembly 32 is declutched from shaft 28, which shoe either to or from the roll, as the case may be. In Figure 2 the shaft 48 is in the position it occupies when the shoe is in cooperating relation to the roll. As above noted, the construction and operation of the assembly 32 is disclosed in detail in my Patent No. 1,867,839 and need not' be here described in greater detail, it sufilcing to note that suitable means is provided for establishing operating connection between the shaft 28 and the shoe shaft 48 for actuating the latter so as to move the shoe to and from the roll as conditions require.

A worm wheel 51 is suitably secured on shaft 28 adjacent the lower end thereof and is disposed within the housing 25. This worm wheel meshes with a worm 58 fixed to a shaft 59 rotatably mounted in housing 25 and connected by a suitable coupling 88 (Figure 1) to armature shaft 8| of an electric motor 62 supported by brackets 84 depending from bed plate Suitable means of known type is provided for connecting the motor to a source of electrical energy, and the shoe 41 is preferably heated by electrical means, it being understood that the provision of a suitable switch for controlling the motor and the shoe circuit is contemplated.

A bevel pinion 65 is secured upon the upper end of shaft 28 and meshes with a bevel gear 68 loose upon roll shaft I and abutting the outer end of boss I2. The gear 66 is provided with a hub 81 and with a spur pinion 68 projecting outward from this hub. A ring member 69 is mounted for relative turning movement on hub 61 and is provided with a plurality of teeth defining an internal gear 18. This member 69 is further provided, beyond teeth 18, with a plurality of teeth providing an internal clutch element 1| and, adjacent its inner end, with a plurality of teeth providing an external ratchet element 12. A disc 13 is fixed upon shaft I at the outer end thereof, by means of a set screw 14 which screws through hub 15 of the disc and engages into a corresponding recess in the shaft.

Shaft II is provided with a concentric bore 18 extending from its outer end and slidably receiving a plunger 11 which is urged outward of the shaft by an expansion coil spring 18 confined between a disc 19 seating in the inner end of bore 16 and the plunger 11, which is recessed for reception of the outer end portion of the spring. The plunger is provided with an outwardly tapering frusto-conical element 88 and a reduced tip element 8| projecting from element 88. The body portion of plunger 11 is cylindrical and, in the outer position of the plunger, shown in Figure 3, contacts the inner ends of two clutch dogs 82 slidably mounted in bosses 83 and 84 formed integrally with hub 15 of disc 13 and with disc 1I, respectively, these bosses and the dogs being aligned diametrically of the disc. Hub 15 and shaft are provided with aligned bores which slidably receive the inner end portions of the dogs. When the dogs are projected, the outer ends 85 thereof, which are tapered correspondingly to the teeth of clutch element 1|, engage between the teeth of this clutch element, and clutch disc 13 and ring member 89 together'for rotation as a unit, as in Figure 4. An arcuate wire spring passes loosely through bores 81 through the dogs 82 and yieldingly urges these dogs toward each other while also holding the dogs against turning movement. When the plunger 11 is moved inward into its inoperative position shown in Figure 5, spring 86 acts to retract the dogs and move them into inoperative position, shown in Figure 6, at which time the disc 13 and the ring member 69 are free for relative turning movement.

A bracket 90 is suitably secured, as by means of screws 9|, to rib 30 at the outer face thereof. This bracket comprises (Figure 11) two arms 9,2 and 93 through which the screws 9| pass, a body portion 94 offset outwardly from the arms 92 and 93, a U-shaped element 95 at the upper end of body 94 and projecting outward therefrom, and an ear 96 projecting outward from the lower end of body 94 at right angles thereto. An operating lever 91 is pivoted at its lower end, at 98, on the outer end of element 95. This lever is of channel cross-section and tapers in depth toward its upper end, where it contacts the terminal element or tip 8| of plunger 11. By rocking this lever about its pivot axis in proper direction, the plunger 11 may be moved into operative and inoperative position for projecting and retracting the clutch dogs 82 in the manner above referred to.

Lever 91 is provided, at one side thereofwith a depending finger 99. Spring 18 coacts with plunger 11 for holding the inner edge of nger 99 in contact with a cam member |00 mounted upon the rearward end of a control shaft |0| which is rockably mounted through the front wall of gear housing 4 and through ear 96 of bracket 90. The rearward portion of shaft |0|'is flattened at |02 and cam member |00 is provided with an opening therethrough corresponding to the crosssection of the rearward portion of the shaft upon which the cam member fits snugly for turning movement therewith. The cam member is confined between ear 96 and a cotter pin |03 secured through shaft |0| at the rearward end thereof, and shaft |0| is held against movement inward of housing 4 by a suitable handle |04 xed upon the forward end of the shaft, as by means of a pin |05, this handle contacting the outer face of the front wall of housing 4. The front wall of housing 4 is provided, on the outer face thereof and adjacent handle |04, with suitable legends such as Fast, Stop and Slow, over which the handle |04 is moved to indicate the proper adjustments of the control means for driving the roll at high speed, stopping the roll and driving the roll at slow speed.

The cam member |00 is of approximately triangular shape and comprises an arcuate cam surface |01 which connects two straight edges |08 and |09, and a nose element I0 having a straight edge Il extending from straight edge |09 perpendicular thereto. A pawl ||5 is pivotally mounted on body 94 of bracket 90, by means of a pivot screw ||6 and associated nut and washer, this pawl being provided with a shoulder I l1 and, at its lower end, a tab 8 extending outward from the pawl perpendicular thereto. A Wire spring |20 is secured, at its lower end, to bracket 90 by means of screw 9| which passes through arm 92 of the bracket. This spring bears against the pawl adjacent the upper end thereof and yieldingly urges the pawl into engagement with the ratchet element 12 of ring member 69. Tab ||8 is disposed for contact with either cam surface |01 or straight edge |08 of the cam member |00, and finger 99 of lever 91 is so disposed that -the inner edge of this finger contacts either straight edge |09 or cam surface |01 af the cam member, depending upon the adjustment of the latter.

In Figures 3 and 4, handle |04 is adjusted so that the cam member |00 occupies the proper position for Fast or high speed operation of the roll. In this position of the cam member, cam surface |01 contacts tab ||8 so as to hold pawl I5 in inoperative position and 'out of engagement with ratchet element 12 of ring member 69. The inner edge of finger 99 of lever 91 is in contact with the straight edge |09 of cam |00, so that the upper end of the lever occupies its outer position and the plunger 11 is held in operative or projected position by spring 18. The dogs 82 are projected into engagement with clutch element 1| of ring member 69 so that .disc 13 and the ring member are thus clutched together for rotation as a unit, and the pawl ||5 is held out of engagement with ratchet element 12. Under such conditions, relative rotation between the disc 13 and the ring member is prevented so'that the disc is locked to pinion 68 for rotation therewith, through a pinion |2| mounted for rotation on a stud |22 suitably secured in disc 13, pinion |2| meshing with pinion 68 and internal gear 10 of the ring structure. This provides a direct drive between gear 66 and roll shaft il for driving the latter at high speed.

By turning the cam member |00 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, into its other extreme position shown in Figure 5, cam, surface |01'of the cammember contacts finger 99 so as to force the latter outward, and straight edge |08 is disposed beneath tab ||8 of pawl Ill-which latter is 'then moved into operative position and engages the teeth of ratchet element 12 of ring member 69, as shown in Figure 6. Outward movement of nger 99 results in inward movement of the upper end of lever 91 so that, with the cam member |00 in the position shown in Figure 5, clutch dogs 82 are retracted so as to declutch disc 13 from ring member 69, and pawl I l5 engages a tooth of the clutch element 12 so as to hold the ring member 69 against rotation in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, it being noted that gear 66 is driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 4 and 6, by drive shaft 2,8 and pinion 65. iUnder such conditions, pinion |2| is driven in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6, and this pinion travels around the internal gear 10 in a clockwise direction, the counterclockwise reaction between pinion |2| and internal gear 10 serving to hold the tooth of the ratchet element 12 in contact with the nose of pawl H5. In this manner, a change speed driving connection is established between gear 66 and roll shaft so that the latter is driven at low speed. Preferably, the gear ratios are such that, at fast 'or high speed the roll is driven at approximately 6 R. P. M., and at slow speed it is driven, at approximately 3 R. P. M. It will be understood,`

however, that any suitable or desired speeds of drive for the roll may be employed. With the` terclockwise direction. In the position of the cam member shown in Figure 5, straight edge |08 contacts the lower edge of body 94 of bracket 90, adjacent nose element |0, thus preventing movement of the cam member in a clockwise direction beyond the position of Figure 5. In this manner, travel of the cam member in either direction beyond proper operative position is prevented.

In Figure 7 the cam member |00 is shown in its intermediate position which corresponds to the Stop legend on the front wall of gear housing 4. In this position of the cam member, cam surface |01 thereof is in contact with both the inner edge of finger 99 and the lower face of tab I |8 of pawl ||5. The lever 91 holds plunger 11 in inoperative position, as in Figure 5, so that the disc 13 is declutched from ring member 69, as

in Figure 6, and pawl ||5 is held in inoperative position as in Figure 8. Since the ring member 69 is now free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, such rotation of the ring member, at relatively low speed, will occur in the continued rotation of gear 66 and the roll shaft will remain stationary. As a result, the roll will not be driven and, due to the pressure of the cooperating shoe, will also remain stationary. It is particularly pointed out that the several adjustments of the cam member |00 can be effected while the shoe is in cooperating relation to the roll, so that the roll can be driven at either Fast or Slow speed, or stopped, while the roll and the shoe are in cooperating relation. In this manner, the rate at which articles are passed between the roll and the shoe may be varied to suit conditions and, if desired, rotation of the roll may be stopped with an article between the roll and the shoe, to assure that excessively damp portions of the article are thoroughly dried.

A release lever |25, of channel cross-section, has its upper. end disposed to straddle the lower end of operating lever 91, this release lever being pivoted on pin 98 on which the operating lever is pivoted. A set screw |26 threads through the upper end of lever |25 and is secured in adjustment by a jam nut |21. lI'his screw is disposed to contact lever 91 above pin 98. Lever |25 is further provided with a trip finger |28 disposed to contact shoulder ||1 of pawl ||5 and hold the latter in inoperative position when lever |25 is moved into operative position. A cupped cam plate |30 of disc form is suitably secured, as by means of screws |3|, on the upper end of the clutch and eccentric assembly 32 previously referred to. This plate is provided with a cam element |32 disposed to contact the lower end of lever |25 and move the same outward into operative position, when shoe shaft 40 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, for moving the shoe from the roll into inoperative position. When the shoe is in this position, release lever |25 is in its operative position shown in Figure 7, the movement of the release lever into this position serving to move lever 91 and pawl ||5 into the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8, thus stopping rotation of the roll. This stopping of the roll by the release lever is independent of the adjustment of cam |00. This will be clear from Figures 3 and 5, from which it will be obvious that movement of the release lever into operative position may occur Without affecting adjustment of the cam members. It will also be obvious from these two figures that, when the shoe is again moved to the roll and into cooperating relation therewith, cam element |32 of plate |30 is moved out of contact with the lower end of lever |25, which is returned to inoperative position. in which position of the lever |25 pawl |15 and operating lever 91 are released and assume their former positions. In this manner, when the shoe is moved to the roll, the latter is driven at a speed corresponding to the adjustment of the cam |00 so that, if this cam were adjusted for driving the roll at either fast or slow speed and the shoe is then moved from the roll without changing the adjustment of the cam member, the roll will again be driven at the same speed upon movement of the shoe to the roll. On the other hand, if the cam member |00 be set at Stop position, and the shoe is moved from the roll without changing the adjustment of the cam member, the roll will not be driven upon return of the shoe to operative position. This is advantageous in that it adapts the machine for use in pressing suits and like articles by movement of the shoe to and from the roll while the latter remains stationary. It is pointed out that, with the cam member |00 in Stop position, or the shoe in inoperative position away from the roll, the roll shaft and the roll may be turned by hand as desired, which is a convenience in changing the roll pad and cover, and under other conditions where this ability to turn the roll by hand may be desirable.

What I claim is:-

1. In an ironing machine, a rotatably mounted roll shaft, an ironing roll connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, a shoe cooperating with said roll, said shoe and said roll having relative movement one to and from the other into and out of cooperating relation, a drive shaft, a gear loose on said roll shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a driven member fixed on the roll shaft, means for establishing a change speed driving connection and a direct driving connection between the driven member and said gear, selectively, when the shoe and the roll are in lcooperating relation to each other, and means for automatically disabling the driving connection between said gear and said driven member responsive to relative movement of said roll and said shoe one from the other into non-cooperating relation to each other.

2. In combination, a driven shaft, a drive shaft, a gear loose on the driven shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member between said gear and said disc and rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft,

' said member having an internal gear, a ratchet element and a clutch element; a pinion secured to said loose gear, a pinion rotatably mounted on the disc and meshing with said gear pinion ard with said internal gear, a pawl movable into engagement with said ratchet element and disposed to hold said ring member against rotation contra. to the direction of rotation of said gear, clutch means carried by said disc and movable into and out of engagement with said clutch element, and control means for moving said pawl into operative position and said clutch means into inoperative position and vice versa. l

3. In combination, a driven shaft, a drive shaft, a gear loose on the driven shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member between said gear and said disc and rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft, said member having an internal gear, a ratchet element and a clutch element; a pinion secured to said loose gear, a pinion rotatably mounted on the disc and meshing with said gear pinion and with said internal gear, a pawl movable into 'engagement with said ratchet element and disposed to hold said ring member against rotation contra to the direction of rotation of said gear, clutch dogs slidable on the disc and cooperating with said clutch element, yielding means for retracting said dogs, a plunger slidable in the driven shaft and yieldingly urged outward thereof, said plunger when projected acting to project the clutch dogs into engagement with the clutch element, an operating lever contacting the outer end of said plunger, and control means comprising a cam member cooperating with said pawl and said lever for moving the pawl into inoperative position and the plunger into operative position and vice versa. 4. In combination, a driven shaft, a drive shaft, a gear loose on the driven shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member between said gear and said disc and rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft, said member having an internal gear, a ratchet element and a clutch element a pinion secured to said loose gear, a pinion rotatably mounted on the disc and meshing with said gear pinion and said internal gear, a pawl movable into engagement with said ratchet element and disposed to hold said ring member against rotation contra to the direction of rotation of said gear, clutch dogs slidable on the disc and cooperating with said clutch element, yielding means for retracting said dogs, a plunger slidable in the driven shaft and yieldingly urged outward thereof, said plunger when projected acting to project the clutch dogs into engagement with the clutch element, an operating lever contacting the outer end of said plunger, and control means comprising a cam member cooperating with said pawl and said lever for moving the pawl into inoperative position and the plunger into operative position and vice versa and for optionally holding both said pawl and said plunger in inoperative positions.

5. In an ironing machine, a roll shaft, an ironing roll connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, a drive shaft, a gear loose on the roll shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said roll shaft, a ring member between said gear and said disc and rotatable about the axis of said roll shaft, said member having'wan Vinternal gear and a ratchet element, a pinion secured to said gear, a pinion mounted on'the disc and meshing with said gear pinion and said internal gear, a pawl yieldingly urged into engagement with said ratchet element and disposed to hold said ring member against rotation contra to the direction of rotation of said gear, a plunger slidable in the roll shaft and yieldingly urged outward thereof, means controlled by the plunger for clutching and declutching said disc to and from said ring member, an operating lever contacting the outer end of said plunger, control means comprising a cam member cooperating with said lever and said pawl for moving the pawl into operative position and the plunger into inoperative position and vice versa, a shoe cooperating with and movable to and from the roll, operating connections between said shoe and said drive shaft comprising a cam plate, and a release lever having an element disposed to contact said control lever and a trip finger disposed to contact said pawl and thereby move both the pawl and the plunger into inoperative position, when said release lever is moved into operative position, the release lever being operable independently of said cam member and the cam element of said cam plate being disposed to contact said release lever and move it into operative position when the shoe is moved from the roll and to permit return of the release lever to inoperative position when said shoe is moved to said roll.

6. In driving means of the character described, a driven shaft, a drive shaft, a gear loose on the driven shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member between said gear and said disc and rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft, said member having an internal gear, a pinion secured to said first gear, a pinion rotatably mounted on said disc and meshing with said internal gear and with said gear pinion, and means for clutching and declutching the disc to and from the ring member and for holding said ring member against rotation contra to the direction of rotation of said gear and permitting rotation of said ring member in said contra direction, optionally.

7. In driving means of the character described, a driven shaft, a drive shaft, a gear loose on the driven shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft, said member having an internal gear, a pinion secured to said loose gear, a pinion rotatably-mounted on said disc and meshing with said internal gear and with said gear pinion, and means for clutching and declutching the disc to and from the ring member and for holding said ring member against rotation contra to the direction of rotation of said loose gear and permitting rotation of said ring member in said contra direction, optionally, during rotation of said loose gear.

8. In driving means of the character described, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a gear loose on the driven shaft and driven by said drive shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft, a speed reducing gear drive from said loose gear through said ring member to said disc, means for clutching and declutching said disc to and from said ring member, and means for holding said ring member against rotation by the reaction of said gear drive and for permitting rotation of said ring member by said reaction, optionally, when said disc is declutched from said ring member and during rotation of said loose gear. l

9. In driving means of the character described, a driven shaft, a continuously rotating drive member loose on said shaft, a disc fixed on said shaft, a ring member rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a gear drive from said drive member .through said ring member to said disc, means for clutching and declutching said disc to and from said ring member, and means for holding said ring member against rotation by the reaction of said gear drive and for permitting rotation of said ring member by said reaction, optionally, when said disc is declutched from said ring member and during continued rotation of said drive member.

10. In driving means of the character described, a driven shaft, a continuously rotating drive member loose on said shaft, a disc fixed on said shaft, a ring member rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a speed reducing drive from said drive member through said ring member to said disc, means for clutching and declutching said disc to and from said ring member, and means for holding said ring member against rotation by the reaction of said speed reducing drive and for permitting rotation of said ring member by said reaction, optionally, when said disc is declutched from said ring member and during continued rotation of said drive member.

11. In driving means of the character described,

a driven shaft, a continuously driven gear loose on said shaft, a disc fixed on said driven shaft, a ring member rotatable about the axis of said driven shaft, said member having an internal gear, a pinion secured to said loose gear, a pinion rotatably mounted on said disc and meshing with said internal gear and with said gear pinion, means for clutching and declutching the disc to and from said ring member, and means for holding said ring member against rotation contra t0 the direction of rotation of said loose gear and for permitting rotation of said ring member in said contra direction, optionally, when said disc is declutched from said ring member and during continued rotation of said loose gear.

12. In driving means of the character described.

a shaft, a continuously rotating gear loose on said shaft, a driven member fixed on said shaft, and means for establishing a change speed driving connection and a direct driving connection between the driven member and said Bear, selectively, said means comprising a ring member rotatable about the axis of said shaft and tending to rotate contra to the direction of rotation of said gear, by the reaction of said change speed drive, and means for holding said ring member against rotation in said contra direction for enabling the change speed drive and for permitting rotation of said ring member in said contra direction for disabling said change speed drive, optionally, during continued rotation of said gear. RUDOLPH W. JANDA. 

